Since launching his solo career in 2000, Ryan Adams has explored many different avenues with his music. But moving from the alt-country leanings of his first album “Heartbreaker“, the cool folk of “Cold Roses“, and even an entire album cover of Taylor Swift’s “1989”, Adam’s latest release goes into a new territory.

“Ryan Adams,” released in 2014, was the first solo effort heard from Adams in three years. It was the product of scrapping an earlier work to come back to his personal studio, Pax-Am, and work on what would become his first self-produced album. The final product sounds right at home with the mid-80s rock of Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers.

One of the things that makes this album interesting is how each song seems to capture an individual thought, moment, time or place. The opening track, “Gimme Something Good,” breaks open with reverb-heavy guitars and electric organ, characteristic of the heartland rock sound that “Ryan Adams” was based off of. The pace is kept up all the way through to “My Wrecking Ball,” a solo acoustic song dripping with the longing to be emotionally wrecked by the promise of love.

For those new to Ryan Adams, this album is a good starting point. I would rate this album a 9/10, because it’s a jam from start to finish.

17hnorris@usd489.com